Annette Roozen

Who is Annette Roozen?

Annette Roozen is a Dutch paraplegic track and field athlete.

When Roozen was sixteen years old, her right leg had to be amputated due to osteosarcoma. Five years later, in 1997, she attended a local sports day for prosthesis users where her interest in athletics was born. Her first international title came in 2003 when she won the 100 metres sprint at the European Championships in Assen in a time of 18.11 seconds, at that time a new European record. That same day she also participated at the long jump, winning the bronze medal with a leap of 2.95 metres. A month later, she won two gold medals at the Open German Championships in Wattenscheid. She broke the world records in both disciplines: 17.85 seconds over 100 metres and 3.19 metres in the long jump. On May 31, 2004, she broke the World record over 100 metres again, this time during the FBK-Games in Hengelo with a time of 17.20 seconds. She represented the Netherlands at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, not in the 100 metres, but only in the long jump. She jumped a personal best of 3.33 metres, but eventually finished in fifth position, without winning a medal.